The rise of the Internet and social media certainly play their role, but we've seen those detrimental qualities wreak havoc on people of all ages who spend too much time online. Especially amongst those bubbling themselves off in tribalist communities.

I see a much larger issue being widespread defunding of public education across the entire country - an attack that's been taking place over the past 30 years. This may be the all-too-common politico's looting of the coffers for other pet projects or personal gain, but some believe it's a more calculated move to make the American people easier to influence and indoctrinate. The No Child Left Behind act of the early aughts was insidiously akin to pouring gasoline onto that fire, as it reduced public school funding to the lowest common denominator for schools that had previously shown prestige. Public education then incurred further attacks from the same politicians who defunded it, decrying falling test scores while blaming culture-war sources as the reason, all as a distraction from their own actions.

Friends who are educators at the college level constantly bemoan how incoming Freshmen classes are less and less prepared, especially in terms of critical thinking. That's where the issue aligns with your critique of social media; it's much easier to be a social lemming when you're less capable of forming independent, critical thought.